UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA  Agricultural  Experiment  Station 

COLLEGE    OF   AGRICULTURE  E-   J-   WlCKSON,    D.rcctor 

BERKELEY,    CALIFORNIA 


CIRCULAR  No.  55 

August,  1910. 


: 


FARMERS'  INSTITUTES  AND  UNIVERSITY 
EXTENSION    IN  AGRICULTURE 


BY 

WARREN  T.  CLARKE. 


Farmer's  Institute  work  in  California  was  begun  in  the  year  1892.  The 
effort  at  first  was  financed  by  the  University  of  California  through  appropria- 
tions from  the  general  funds  of  this  institution.  This  provision  of  all  necessary 
funds  by  the  University  of  California  was  continued  for  eleven  years.  In  the 
year  1903  the  State  Legislature  passed  an  Act  entitled  ' '  An  Act  authorizing 
the  Regents  of  the  State  University  to  hold  Farmers'  Institutes,  making  an 
appropriation  therefor,  and  prescribing  the  duties  of  the  Controller  and 
Treasurer  in  relation  thereto."  The  sum  of  six  thousand  dollars  a  year  for 
two  years  was  appropriated  for  the  specified  purpose  under  the  Act.  The 
Legislatures  of  the  years  1905  and  1907  reenacted  this  Act  without  change. 
The  work  of  Farmers '  Institutes  and  University  Extension  in  Agriculture, 
owing  to  this  generous  provision  of  money  by  -the  State,  was  greatly  enlarged 
and  placed  upon  a  more  satisfactory  basis  than  had  been  possible  heretofore. 
Institutes  have  been  held  not  alone  in  those  parts  of  the  State  that  were  easily 
accessible  but  the  work  has  also  been  done  in  the  most  remote  farming  sections. 
Distance  from  railroad  transportation  has  been  no  bar  to  the  effort  and  the 
work  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  was  made,  in  some  or  all  of  its 
phases,  to  be  of  state-wide  value  and  importance.  The  very  fact  that  the 
Farmers'  Institute  movement  was  in  a  period  of  growth  and  expansion  had 
the  effect  of  creating  new  demands  upon  those  engaged  in  the  work,  and,  at 
the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the  State  Legislature  in  1909,  the  Act  previously 
referred  to  was  again  enacted,  but  with  the  appropriation  increased  to  ten 
thousand  dollars  a  year.  This  increased  appropriation  for  the  work  of YUniversity 
Extension  in  Agriculture  passed  both  the  Senate  and  Assembly  without  opposi- 


tion  and  received  enthusiastic  approval  from  the  Governor  of  the  State,  while 
in  the  comments  by  the  press  and  by  those  prominent  in  industrial  and 
educational  circles  the  work  of  Farmers'  Institutes  was  highly  praised  for 
directness  and  efficiency.  Regular  printed  reports  of  the  work  done  have  not 
been  made,  owing  to  the  fact  that  funds  for  printing  purposes  have  not  been 
at  hand.  It  seems  appropriate,  however,  at  this  time,  the  end  of  the  first  year  's 
work  under  the  larger  appropriation,  to  briefly  point  out  some  phases  of  the 
work  and  to  indicate  what  has  been  done  in  the  year  just  ended. 


ORGANIZATION. 

The  work  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  and  Farmers'  Institutes 
is  organized  as  a  division  of  the  College  of  Agriculture  of  the  University  of 
California.  In  1907  the  writer  was  made  Superintendent  of  this  division  of 
the  college  work.  Mr.  J.  B.  Neff  of  Anaheim  holds  the  office  of  Conductor  of 
Farmers'  Institutes  for  Southern  California.  Correspondence  regarding  the 
general  work  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  and  of  Farmers'  Institutes 
in  the  Northern  part  of  the  State  should  be  addressed  to  W.  T.  Clarke,  College 
of  Agriculture,  Berkeley,  while  letters  in  regard  to  Institutes  in  Southern 
California  should  be  sent  to  the  Conductor  of  Institutes  named  above. 


LINES    OF    EFFORT. 

Various  lines  of  work  are  carried  forward  by  the  division  of  University 
Extension  in  Agriculture,  all  having  as  their  ultimate  end  the  bringing  to  the 
different  communities  the  very  latent  scientific  and  practical  knowledge  that 
may  be  of  value  to  the  farmers  of  the  State.  This  last  manifestly  cannot  be 
done  in  the  same  way  and  through  the  same  agencies  for  each  community  and 
individual,  so  the  subdivisions  of  the  work  noted  below  are  made. 

Farmers'  Institutes. — These  meetings  are  held  in  the  communities  demanding 
them  and  manifesting  the  greatest  interest  in  intensive  educational  work.  The 
meetings  are  usually  of  one  or  two  days'  duration,  though  occasionally  even 
more  time  may  be  given  to  one  place.  Speakers  are  sent  out  from  the  College 
of  Agriculture,  these  men  being  specialists  in  the  subjects  which  they  discuss. 
Men  and  women  who  have  made  successes  in  the  actual  work  of  the  farms  are 
also  sent  to  these  institutes.  The  speaking  force  at  the  Farmers'  Institutes  is 
thus  made  up  of  both  scientific  experimenters  and  practical  workers,  and  the 
discussions,  therefore,  are  of  real  value  to  those  communities  where  meetings 
may  be  held.  It  is  also  constantly  and  strongly  urged  that  papers  covering 
subjects  of  local  import  be  presented  by  men  and  women  resident  in  the  com- 
munity where  the  meetings  are  being  held.  .  It  has  been  found  that  such 
papers  frequently  are  of  great  value.  By  the  means  here  briefly  noted  the 
Farmers'  Institute  has  been  made  to  be  a  method  of  intensive  educational 
work  of  real  value  to  the  busy  farmer. 

Early  securing  of  dates  is  urged  as  the  demands  for  these  meetings  are 
great,  and  hence  they  have  to  be  arranged  for  much  in  advance  of  the  time 
that  they  may  be  wanted.     The  question  as  to  the  expense  of  such  meetings  to 


UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA  Agricultural  Experiment  Station 

College  of  agriculture  e-  j-  Wickson>  d.rccto* 

BERKELEY,    CALIFORNIA 


.     l  • 

CIRCULAR  No. 

55 

' 

August,  1910. 

FARMERS'  INSTITUTES  AND  UNIVERSITY 
EXTENSION    IN  AGRICULTURE 


BY 
WARREN  T.  CLARKE. 


Farmer's  Institute  work  in  California  was  begun  in  the  year  1892.  The 
effort  at  first  was  financed  by  the  University  of  California  through  appropria- 
tions from  the  general  funds  of  this  institution.  This  provision  of  all  necessary 
funds  by  the  University  of  California  was  continued  for  eleven  years.  In  the 
year  1903  the  State  Legislature  passed  an  Act  entitled  "An  Act  authorizing 
the  Regents  of  the  State  University  to  hold  Farmers'  Institutes,  making  an 
appropriation  therefor,  and  prescribing  the  duties  of  the  Controller  and 
Treasurer  in  relation  thereto."  The  sum  of  six  thousand  dollars  a  year  for 
two  years  was  appropriated  for  the  specified  purpose  under  the  Act.  The 
Legislatures  of  the  years  1905  and  1907  reenacted  this  Act  without  change. 
The  work  of  Farmers'  Institutes  and  University  Extension  in  Agriculture, 
owing  to  this  generous  provision  of  money  by  the  State,  was  greatly  enlarged 
and  placed  upon  a  more  satisfactory  basis  than  had  been  possible  heretofore. 
Institutes  have  been  held  not  alone  in  those  parts  of  the  State  that  were  easily 
accessible  but  the  work  has  also  been  done  in  the  most  remote  farming  sections. 
Distance  from  railroad  transportation  has  been  no  bar  to  the  effort  and  the 
work  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  was  made,  in  some  or  all  of  its 
phases,  to  be  of  state-wide  value  and  importance.  The  very  fact  that  the 
Farmers'  Institute  movement  was  in  a  period  of  growth  and  expansion  had 
the  effect  of  creating  new  demands  upon  those  engaged  in  the  work,  and,  at 
the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the  State  Legislature  in  1909.  the  Act  previously 
referred  to  was  again  enacted,  but  with  the  appropriation  increased  to  ten 
thousand  dollars  a  year.  This  increased  appropriation  for  the  work  of  University 
Extension  in  Agriculture  passed  both  the  Senate  and  Assembly  without  opposi- 


tion  and  received  enthusiastic  approval  from  the  Governor  of  the  State,  while 
in  the  comments  by  the  press  and  by  those  prominent  in  industrial  and 
educational  circles  the  work  of  Farmers'  Institutes  was  highly  praised  for 
directness  and  efficiency.  Regular  printed  reports  of  the  work  done  have  not 
been  made,  owing  to  the  fact  that  funds  for  printing  purposes  have  not  been 
at  hand.  It  seems  appropriate,  however,  at  this  time,  the  end  of  the  first  year  's 
work  under  the  larger  appropriation,  to  briefly  point  out  some  phases  of  the 
work  and  to  indicate  what  has  been  done  in  the  year  just  ended. 


ORGANIZATION. 

The  work  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  and  Farmers'  Institutes 
is  organized  as  a  division  of  the  College  of  Agriculture  of  the  University  of 
California.  In  1907  the  writer  was  made  Superintendent  of  this  division  of 
the  college  work.  Mr.  J.  B.  Neff  of  Anaheim  holds  the  office  of  Conductor  of 
Farmers'  Institutes  for  Southern  California.  Correspondence  regarding  the 
general  work  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  and  of  Farmers'  Institutes 
in  the  Northern  part  of  the  State  should  be  addressed  to  W.  T.  Clarke,  College 
of  Agriculture,  Berkeley,  while  letters  in  regard  to  Institutes  in  Southern 
California  should  be  sent  to  the  Conductor  of  Institutes  named  above. 


LINES    OF    EFFORT. 

Various  lines  of  work  are  carried  forward  by  the  division  of  University 
Extension  in  Agriculture,  all  having  as  their  ultimate  end  the  bringing  to  the 
different  communities  the  very  latest  scientific  and  practical  knowledge  that 
may  be  of  value  to  the  farmers  of  the  State.  This  last  manifestly  cannot  be 
done  in  the  same  way  and  through  the  same  agencies  for  each  community  and 
individual,  so  the  subdivisions  of  the  work  noted  below  are  made. 

Farmers7  Institutes. — These  meetings  are  held  in  the  communities  demanding 
them  and  manifesting  the  greatest  interest  in  intensive  educational  work.  The 
meetings  are  usually  of  one  or  two  days'  duration,  though  occasionally  even 
more  time  may  be  given  to  one  place.  Speakers  are  sent  out  from  the  College 
of  Agriculture,  these  men  being  specialists  in  the  subjects  which  they  discuss. 
Men  and  women  who  have  made  successes  in  the  actual  work  of  the  farms  are 
also  sent  to  these  institutes.  The  speaking  force  at  the  Farmers'  Institutes  is 
thus  made  up  of  both  scientific  experimenters  and  practical  workers,  and  the 
discussions,  therefore,  are  of  real  value  to  those  communities  where  meetings 
may  be  held.  It  is  also  constantly  and  strongly  urged  that  papers  covering 
subjects  of  local  import  be  presented  by  men  and  women  resident  in  the  com- 
munity where  the  meetings  are  being  held.  It  has  been  found  that  such 
papers  frequently  are  of  great  value.  By  the  means  here  briefly  noted  the 
Farmers'  Institute  has  been  made  to  be  a  method  of  intensive  educational 
work  of  real  value  to  the  busy  farmer. 

Early  securing  of  dates  is  urged  as  the  demands  for  these  meetings  are 
great,  and  hence  they  have  to  be  arranged  for  much  in  advance  of  the  time 
that  they  may  be  wanted.     The  question  as  to  the  expense  of  such  meetings  to 


the  community  is  frequently  asked  and  can  be  briefly  answered  thus: — The 
division  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  furnishes  speakers  from  abroad, 
paying  for  their  time  and  also  paying  all  of  their  traveling  expenses.  The  com- 
munity where  the  Institute  is  held  provides,  at  its  expense,  hall  and  heating 
and  lighting  thereof,  and  also  takes  care  of  the  local  advertising.  This  expense 
need  not  be  heavy,  but  should  be  attended  to  before  the  meetings  are  held, 
so  that  visitors  need  not  feel  that  demands  will  be  made  on  them  for  money. 
The  Farmers '  Institute  is  supposed  to  be  free  to  all  who  may  wish  to  attend. 

Beading  Courses. — While  the  Farmers '  Institute  is  both  a  direct  and  inten- 
sive educational  effort,  in  many  cases,  in  the  very  nature  of  things,  it  does  not 
go  as  deeply  into  the  subjects  discussed  as  some  of  our  people  wish.  In 
response  to  a  demand  for  some  means  by  which  the  man  or  woman  desiring  to 
go  further  in  study  than  was  possible  in  the  Institute,  reading  courses  have 
been  established  as  a  part  of  the  work  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture. 
Two  such  courses  are  now  in  active  operation.  One  of  these  is  entitled  ' '  A 
Reading  Course  in  Economic  Entomology,"  and  the  other  "A  Eeading  Course 
in  Irrigation  Practice  and  Institutions."  On  request,  students  in  any  part  of 
the  State  are  registered  in  these  courses  and  literature  on  the  subject  chosen 
furnished  to  them,  and  their  reading  of  this  literature  is  directed  from  the 
College  of  Agriculture.  Students  registering  in  these  courses  are  expected  to 
pay  the  cost  of  transportation  of  books  from  and  to  Berkeley.  No  other 
expense  attaches  to  these  reading  courses. 

Correspondence  and  Special  Visitations. — Questions  are  frequently  asked  in 
letters  to  the  division  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  and  these 
questions  entail  either  a  very  considerable  correspondence  or  in  certain  special 
cases  the  actual  visiting  by  experts  of  the  region  from  whence  the  inquiry 
comes.  This  phase  of  extension  work  is  encouraged  and  met,  so  far  as  funds 
at  our  disposal  will  permit,  and  there  can  be  no  question  that  much  of  value 
to  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  State  is  accomplished  in  this  way. 

Public  Schools. — The  division  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture,  co- 
operating with  the  division  of  Agricultural  Education  of  the  University  of 
California,  is  making  definite  efforts  to  reach  the  school  children  of  the  State. 
These  divisions  stand  ready  to  assist  any  of  the  schools  of  the  State  in  their 
work  of  teaching  agriculture.  This  assistance  may  consist  of  advice  given  by 
letters  or  by  circulars,  of  personal  supervision  of  garden  work,  and  of 
addresses  by  experts  in  agricultural  matters.  In  connection  with  this  school 
extension  work  a  special  effort  is  being  made  to  encourage  the  planting  and 
care  of  trees  and  shrubs  and  the  whole  effort  is  showing  very  encouraging 
features. 

Demonstration  Trains. — Through  the  cooperation  of  the  Southern  Pacific 
Company  we  have  been  able  to  put  out,  during  the  past  two  years,  what  are 
known  as  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Demonstration  Trains.  The  funda- 
mental principle,  governing  the  make-up  of  these  trains,  has  been  the  idea  that 
better  methods  of  work  on  the  farm  and  the  results  that  might  be  attained 
through  these  methods  could  be  best  understood  if  actually  seen.  So  agri- 
cultural exhibits  have  been  brought  together  and  conveniently  installed  in 
well-lighted   coaches  for  the   purpose   of   showing  better  and   more   economical 


methods.  The  demonstration  trains  have  been  made  up  of  these  exhibit 
coaches,  a  car  for  lecture  purposes  and  the  necessary  sleeping  and  dining  cars, 
and  have  been  run  as  specials  over  all  the  lines  of  this  railroad  company 
in  the  State,  all  of  the  operating  expenses  of  the  trains  being  met  by  them. 
Men  from  the  College  of  Agriculture,  and  men  and  women  engaged  in  the 
actual  working  of  the  farms  of  the  State,  have  accompanied  the  trains  and 
explained  the  exhibits  and  answered  the  questions  of  visitors.  The  educational 
value  of  these  ''Agricultural  Colleges  on  Wheels"  can  hardly  be  overestimated, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  effort  may  be  continued,  though  their  operation 
entails  a  great  drain  on  the  teaching  force  of  the  College  of  Agriculture. 


SUMMARY. 

The  preceding  paragraphs  give,  in  a  general  way,  an  outline  of  the  various 
activities  of  the  division  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture.  As  to  the 
actual  work  done  in  the  last  fiscal  year,  ending  on  June  30,  1910,  the  following 
statistics  show,  in  some  degree,  its  extent: 

One  hundred  Farmers'  Institutes  were  held,  covering  132  days,  and  were 
divided  into  297  sessions.  A  total  of  29,108  people  attended  these  institutes 
and  25  State  lecturers  and  183  local  lecturers  addressed  the  meetings.  In 
addition  to  these  lecturers  ten  speakers  from  the  College  of  Agriculture  devoted 
a  total  of  134  days  to  the  work  of  Farmers'  Institutes. 

One  hundred  and  fifteen  reading  course  students  were  registered  from  thirty- 
eight  counties  of  the  State. 

The  Demonstration  Train  was  in  service  sixty-eight  days,  covering  3,436 
miles  of  road  and  making  223  stops.     A  total  of  73,663  people  visited  the  train. 

Teachers  to  the  number  of  1,200  were  approached  by  letter  on  the  subject 
of  nature  study.  Ten  thousand  circulars  on  school  gardens  were  sent  out, 
while  seventy-five  City  and  County  Superintendents  of  Schools  were  corre- 
sponded with  on  the  above  subjects.  Three  schools  were  given  personal  super- 
vision in  garden  and  agricultural  work  while  twenty-four  teachers  were  helped 
in  these  endeavors  by  letter  and  personal  visits.  In  addition  to  all  this  a 
number  of  addresses  were  given  at  Teachers'  Institutes  and  Teachers'  Associa- 
tions. 

This  bare  recital  of  figures  indicates  in  an  imperfect  way  the  activities  of 
the  division  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  for  the  past  year.  The 
great  demands  that  the  work  has  made  upon  the  teaching  force  of  the  College 
of  Agriculture  should  be  noted,  yet  it  has  brought  the  University  staff  into 
very  close  personal  relations  with  the  people  of  the  State  in  a  way  that  has 
proved  very  acceptable  to  all  concerned. 

W.  T.  CLARKE, 

Supt.   University  Extension  in  Agriculture, 

University  of  California, 

Berkeley,  California. 


the  community  is  frequently  asked  and  can  be  briefly  answered  thus: — The 
division  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  furnishes  speakers  from  abroad, 
paying  for  their  time  and  also  paying  all  of  their  traveling  expenses.  The  com- 
munity where  the  Institute  is  held  provides,  at  its  expense,  hall  and  heating 
and  lighting  thereof,  and  also  takes  care  of  the  local  advertising.  This  expense 
need  not  be  heavy,  but  should  be  attended  to  before  the  meetings  are  held, 
so  that  visitors  need  not  feel  that  demands  will  be  made  on  them  for  money. 
The  Farmers'  Institute  is  supposed  to  be  free  to  all  who  may  wish  to  attend. 

Beading  Courses. — While  the  Farmers '  Institute  is  both  a  direct  and  inten- 
sive educational  effort,  in  many  cases,  in  the  very  nature  of  things,  it  does  not 
go  as  deeply  into  the  subjects  discussed  as  some  of  our  people  wish.  In 
response  to  a  demand  for  some  means  by  which  the  man  or  woman  desiring  to 
go  further  in  study  than  was  possible  in  the  Institute,  reading  courses  have 
been  established  as  a  part  of  the  work  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture. 
Two  such  courses  are  now  in  active  operation.  One  of  these  is  entitled  ' '  A 
Reading  Course  in  Economic  Entomology,"  and  the  other  "A  Reading  Course 
in  Irrigation  Practice  and  Institutions. ' '  On  request,  students  in  any  part  of 
the  State  are  registered  in  these  courses  and  literature  on  the  subject  chosen 
furnished  to  them,  and  their  reading  of  this  literature  is  directed  from  the 
College  of  Agriculture.  Students  registering  in  these  courses  are  expected  to 
pay  the  cost  of  transportation  of  books  from  and  to  Berkeley.  No  other 
expense  attaches  to  these  reading  courses. 

Correspondence  and  Special  Visitations. — Questions  are  frequently  asked  in 
letters  to  the  division  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  and  these 
questions  entail  either  a  very  considerable  correspondence  or  in  certain  special 
cases  the  actual  visiting  by  experts  of  the  region  from  whence  the  inquiry 
comes.  This  phase  of  extension  work  is  encouraged  and  met,  so  far  as  funds 
at  our  disposal  will  permit,  and  there  can  be  no  question  that  much  of  value 
to  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  State  is  accomplished  in  this  way. 

Public  Schools. — The  division  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture,  co- 
operating with  the  division  of  Agricultural  Education  of  the  University  of 
California,  is  making  definite  efforts  to  reach  the  school  children  of  the  State. 
These  divisions  stand  ready  to  assist  any  of  the  schools  of  the  State  in  their 
work  of  teaching  agriculture.  This  assistance  may  consist  of  advice  given  by 
letters  or  by  circulars,  of  personal  supervision  of  garden  work,  and  of 
addresses  by  experts  in  agricultural  matters.  In  connection  with  this  school 
extension  work  a  special  effort  is  being  made  to  encourage  the  planting  and 
care  of  trees  and  shrubs  and  the  whole  effort  is  showing  very  encouraging 
features. 

Demonstration  Trains. — Through  the  cooperation  of  the  Southern  Pacific 
Company  we  have  been  able  to  put  out,  during  the  past  two  years,  what  are 
known  as  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Demonstration  Trains.  The  funda- 
mental principle,  governing  the  make-up  of  these  trains,  has  been  the  idea  that 
better  methods  of  work  on  the  farm  and  the  results  that  might  be  attained 
through  these  methods  could  be  best  understood  if  actually  seen.  So  agri- 
cultural exhibits  have  been  brought  together  and  conveniently  installed  in 
well-lighted   coaches  for  the  purpose  of   showing  better   and   more   economical 


methods.  The  demonstration  trains  have  been  made  up  of  these  exhibit 
coaches,  a  car  for  lecture  purposes  and  the  necessary  sleeping  and  dining  cars, 
and  have  been  run  as  specials  over  all  the  lines  of  this  railroad  company 
in  the  State,  all  of  the  operating  expenses  of  the  trains  being  met  by  them. 
Men  from  the  College  of  Agriculture,  and  men  and  women  engaged  in  the 
actual  working  of  the  farms  of  the  State,  have  accompanied  the  trains  and 
explained  the  exhibits  and  answered  the  questions  of  visitors.  The  educational 
value  of  these  "Agricultural  Colleges  on  Wheels"  can  hardly  be  overestimated, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  effort  may  be  continued,  though  their  operation 
entails  a  great  drain  on  the  teaching  force  of  the  College  of  Agriculture. 


SUMMARY. 

The  preceding  paragraphs  give,  in  a  general  way,  an  outline  of  the  various 
activities  of  the  division  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture.  As  to  the 
actual  work  done  in  the  last  fiscal  year,  ending  on  June  30,  1910,  the  following 
statistics  show,  in  some  degree,  its  extent: 

One  hundred  Farmers'  Institutes  were  held,  covering  132  days,  and  were 
divided  into  297  sessions.  A  total  of  29,108  people  attended  these  institutes 
and  25  State  lecturers  and  183  local  lecturers  addressed  the  meetings.  In 
addition  to  these  lecturers  ten  speakers  from  the  College  of  Agriculture  devoted 
a  total  of  134  days  to  the  work  of  Farmers'  Institutes. 

One  hundred  and  fifteen  reading  course  students  were  registered  from  thirty- 
eight  counties  of  the  State. 

The  Demonstration  Train  was  in  service  sixty-eight  days,  covering  3,436 
miles  of  road  and  making  223  stops.     A  total  of  73,663  people  visited  the  train. 

Teachers  to  the  number  of  1,200  were  approached  by  letter  on  the  subject 
of  nature  study.  Ten  thousand  circulars  on  school  gardens  were  sent  out, 
while  seventy-five  City  and  County  Superintendents  of  Schools  were  corre- 
sponded with  on  the  above  subjects.  Three  schools  were  given  personal  super- 
vision in  garden  and  agricultural  work  while  twenty-four  teachers  were  helped 
in  these  endeavors  by  letter  and  personal  visits.  In  addition  to  all  this  a 
number  of  addresses  were  given  at  Teachers'  Institutes  and  Teachers'  Associa- 
tions. 

This  bare  recital  of  figures  indicates  in  an  imperfect  way  the  activities  of 
the  division  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  for  the  past  year.  The 
great  demands  that  the  work  has  made  upon  the  teaching  force  of  the  College 
of  Agriculture  should  be  noted,  yet  it  has  brought  the  University  staff  into 
very  close  personal  relations  with  the  people  of  the  State  in  a  way  that  has 
proved  very  acceptable  to  all  concerned. 

W.  T.  CLARKE, 
Supt.  University  Extension   in  Agriculture, 

University  of  California, 

Berkeley,  California. 


methods.  The  demonstration  trains  have  been  made  up  of  these  exhibit 
coaches,  a  car  for  lecture  purposes  and  the  necessary  sleeping  and  dining  cars, 
and  have  been  run  as  specials  over  all  the  lines  of  this  railroad  company 
in  the  State,  all  of  the  operating  expenses  of  the  trains  being  met  by  them. 
Men  from  the  College  of  Agriculture,  and  men  and  women  engaged  in  the 
actual  working  of  the  farms  of  the  State,  have  accompanied  the  trains  and 
explained  the  exhibits  and  answered  the  questions  of  visitors.  The  educational 
value  of  these  "Agricultural  Colleges  on  Wheels"  can  hardly  be  overestimated, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  effort  may  be  continued,  though  their  operation 
entails  a  great  drain  on  the  teaching  force  of  the  College  of  Agriculture. 


SUMMARY. 

The  preceding  paragraphs  give,  in  a  general  way,  an  outline  of  the  various 
activities  of  the  division  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture.  As  to  the 
actual  work  done  in  the  last  fiscal  year,  ending  on  June  30,  1910,  the  following 
statistics  show,  in  some  degree,  its  extent: 

One  hundred  Farmers'  Institutes  were  held,  covering  132  days,  and  were 
divided  into  297  sessions.  A  total  of  29,108  people  attended  these  institutes 
and  25  State  lecturers  and  183  local  lecturers  addressed  the  meetings.  In 
addition  to  these  lecturers  ten  speakers  from  the  College  of  Agriculture  devoted 
a  total  of  134  days  to  the  work  of  Farmers'  Institutes. 

One  hundred  and  fifteen  reading  course  students  were  registered  from  thirty- 
eight  counties  of  the  State. 

The  Demonstration  Train  was  in  service  sixty-eight  days,  covering  3,436 
miles  of  road  and  making  223  stops.     A  total  of  73,663  people  visited  the  train. 

Teachers  to  the  number  of  1,200  were  approached  by  letter  on  the  subject 
of  nature  study.  Ten  thousand  circulars  on  school  gardens  were  sent  out, 
while  seventy-five  City  and  County  Superintendents  of  Schools  were  corre- 
sponded with  on  the  above  subjects.  Three  schools  were  given  personal  super- 
vision in  garden  and  agricultural  work  while  twenty-four  teachers  were  helped 
in  these  endeavors  by  letter  and  personal  visits.  In  addition  to  all  this  a 
number  of  addresses  were  given  at  Teachers'  Institutes  and  Teachers'  Associa- 
tions. 

This  bare  recital  of  figures  indicates  in  an  imperfect  way  the  activities  of 
the  division  of  University  Extension  in  Agriculture  for  the  past  year.  The 
great  demands  that  the  work  has  made  upon  the  teaching  force  of  the  College 
of  Agriculture  should  be  noted,  yet  it  has  brought  the  University  staff  into 
very  close  personal  relations  with  the  people  of  the  State  in  a  way  that  has 
proved  very  acceptable  to  all  concerned. 

W.  T.  CLARKE, 

Supt.  University  Extension  in  Agriculture, 

University  of  California, 

Berkeley,  California. 


